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If you are sending your adult children off to college you know that there are three school related expenses which make up the bulk of your budget: tuition, room and board, and textbooks. The first two expenses are mostly fixed and predictable costs, while the third is impossible to predict as well as a potential budget buster. You may not be able to predict textbook expenses, but you certainly can reduce them by following these three important steps:

1. Shop Online. Your college bookstore has an ironclad grip on textbook inventory, right? Well, at one time that was a true statement. Today, thanks to the internet, websites have sprung up that sell new and used textbooks at prices much lower than those found on campus. Shop with those retailers who have clearly outlined payment, shipping and handling, and return policies. Scan auction sites too for additional savings.

2. Shop Retail. The big bookstore retailers as well as some of the office supply stores carry some titles. At the very least your student can purchase all of his or her supplies off campus, saving you big money in the process.

3. Shop Used. Your campus bookstore knows that having used textbooks on hand will keep them somewhat competitive. The trick with textbook publishers is that yearly updates can make used copies obsolete: planned obsolescence in action! Still, when I was in school I had one professor who encouraged students to pick up the ?outdated??copies of one book since he knew the cost was outrageous and he planned on referencing it sparingly. Your student may also learn that some of the titles on the professor's list are optional, not mandatory purchases.

Students today no longer have to feel as if they are being ?held hostage??by outrageous textbook prices. Have your student shop wisely and your budget will remain on track.

# posted by oisnjqv : 8:44 PM  0 comments

Sunday?s Super Bowl is likely to be won by the team with the most rushing yardage. Winning the battle of the line of scrimmage is as basic it gets, but it?s also a tried and true method for victory. Last season the Patriots won the rushing battle 112-45 in their 24-21 win over the Eagles. The year before, the Pats outrushed Carolina 127-92 on their way to the title. Even in their stunning upset of the Rams five years ago, the Patriots won the rushing battle against Marshall Faulk and their strong St. Louis offensive line, 133-90.

This Super Bowl is so interesting because both teams love to run the football behind mammoth offensive lines and bruising running backs like Jerome Bettis and rushing champ Shaun Alexander. Both coaches, too, Mike Holmgren and Bill Cowher, have a propensity to run the football and take away the opponent?s running game. Both offensive lines are solid.

Seattle was third in the NFL averaging 153 yards rushing per game, while Pittsburgh was fifth averaging 139 yards per game. In the all important yards per carry, Seattle averaged 4.7 yards (second) while the Steelers averaged 4 yards per pop (12th).

One aspect of the game that could be key is that Seattle has faced only one good team all season (Dallas) that ran a 3-4 defense. So does Pittsburgh. In that game against the Cowboys, Shaun Alexander had his worst game of the season with 61 yards rushing on 21 carries. Seattle needed a late miracle in the final minute, and a timely Drew Bledsoe turnover, to win that game 13-10. You can bet the Seahawks have watched game film of that one again to try and figure out what they did wrong and what adjustments they need to make. Pittsburgh?s run-stuffers and quick, aggressive linebackers are as good as any in the league, and better than the Cowboys!

The Cowboys continually controlled the line of scrimmage by putting as many as nine defenders within 4 yards of the ball, even on passing downs. The Seattle offense, averaging 407 yards coming in to that game, finished with 289. In addition, QB Matt Hasselbeck was 23-of-42 for 224 yards, with one TD and two interceptions. He?ll likely have to put up better numbers than that Sunday if Seattle is going to win a championship. Notice that Dallas RB Marion Barber ran for 95 yards on 22 carries in Julius Jones' place. The Steelers would love to repeat that kind of production with Jerome Bettis or Willie Anderson.

One final thought is the explosive war or words that?s been going on. Seattle TE Jerramy Stevens took a foolish shot at Bettis, after which Pittsburgh LB Joey Porter retorted, ?I think we can go out there and beat them.??Porter also added, "I've got my first taste of blood, and now I'm thirsty for more.??Does anyone smell FIREWORKS? Said Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren when asked about the rhetoric between the two players, "You won't hear Jerramy say any more about it the rest of the week.??Which means he told Stevens to keep his yap shut! Enjoy the game, and remember that the dog has covered 4 straight Super Bowls, with three of the last four decided by a field goal.

# posted by oisnjqv : 8:39 PM  0 comments

Many people go to Florida to fish for that trophy bass but did you know that 4 other states have a bigger state record than Florida? Not only that but one of the states is said to have produced a new world record. Florida's record bass is 17.27 pounds, but others often cite an uncertified fish of 20.125 pounds (a fisheries biologist did not physically see the fish to certify it). Leaha Trew supposely caught a new world record largemouth in California. It weighed 22 pounds, 8 ounces, beating George Perry's 1932 record catch by 4 ounces. The problem is there was only one picture taken of it and it wasn't certified by a biologist or a California state fish and game offical.

Where is the next world record coming from? Florida, Georgia, Mississippi or Texas? More than likely it will be from California. Gregg Silks has already caught 2 bass over twenty pounds and says he has lost a world record fish of 24 pounds. Who is to argue with him since he knows what 20 pound plus bass look like? 22 of 25 of the largest bass ever recorded has come from California. The next world record bass in my opinion, is going to be from the lakes of San Diego water system. Just look at the stats:

Dixon: 21 pounds 11 ounce bass

Jennings: 18 pounds plus

Murray: 18 pounds plus

Poway: 18 pound 2 ounce

These are just a few of the lakes, all the lakes holds monster bass. Not only that, there are big bass all over California, Leaha Trew caught her bass in Sonoma County. While I am not taking anything away from Florida, as I have lived there and seen many 10 pound plus bass taken from there, California is growing bigger bass and people are catching them. Just check with the water district before you plan a trip as some have restrictions and are closed at certain times.

# posted by oisnjqv : 2:41 PM  0 comments

You own a rental property for years, and never see the "big pay-off." Is it time to cash in on your investment, now that you've paid down the mortgage, and values are up? Maybe not.

The Problem With Selling

Selling means you'll have to pay a large capital gains tax. This can be avoided if you reinvest through a 1031 exchange, but then the point is that you want your money, right? Also, a good rental gets more income as rents go up. Do you want to lose this inflation-indexed retirement plan? What's the alternative?

Refinancing Rental Property

Have you considered that if you refinance, you can get much of your gain out of the property, without paying a penny in taxes? Borrowing money is not a taxable event. You can take it and spend it however you want, and still keep your rentals.

Let's look at an example. Suppose you have owned a small apartment building for years. You bought it for $240,000, with a downpayment of $40,000, and mortgage payments of $1650 monthly on the balance. Now it is worth $400,000, you only owe $120,000, and your cash flow is around $800/month. How do you get at that equity?

A bank will probably loan you 70% of the value, or $280,000. After paying off the first mortgage, you are left with $160,000. With todays lower interest rates, your payment on the new mortgage will be about the same. At most you might lose $50/month in cash flow.

An even better scenario: Use $40,000 for high-return upgrades to the property, such as carports or laundry rooms, and then raise the rents. You could have $120,000 left over to spend any way you want, AND have higher cash flow. Does that sound better than selling your retirement plan? Don't sell. Refinance that rental property!

# posted by oisnjqv : 2:36 PM  0 comments